Merton

Merton's population increased by about 11,800 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 200,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Merton increased by 6.3%, from almost 188,000 to 200,000.

The addition of just under 12,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Merton was home to, on average, 38 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Merton

Latest census data also show that the median age of Merton remained 34 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a higher average age than London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 4,700 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by about 600.

About 15.0% of people in Merton are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Merton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Merton

The percentage of Merton residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.3% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 19 (5.3%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 5.8% in 2001. The percentage of Merton residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91.8%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Merton at a faster rate than across England.

In Merton, the proportion of private renting increased from 15.4% in 2001 to 24.8% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Across London, the share of privately rented homes increased from 15.3% to 25.1%.

The rate of social housing in Merton remained close to 14.1%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 68.5% to 59.3%.

Private renting in Merton increased by 9.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Merton, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Merton

In 2011, 18.1% of Merton residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 12.4% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 13.2% to 18.5%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 64.9% of people in Merton said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 75.0% in 2001. About 10.4% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 7.8% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 3.1% to 4.7%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Merton increased by 5.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Merton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Merton

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Merton was among those who said they had no religion, rising 4.2 points.

In 2011, 22.2% of respondents in Merton gave this religion on the census compared with 18.0% of those who answered in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.3% to 22.6%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 60.3% said they were Christian, compared with 68.7% in 2001. About 8.8% said they were Muslim, compared with 6.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Sikh decreased from 0.3% to 0.3%.

In Merton, 7.0% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.9% in 2001. In London, 8.5% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Merton increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Merton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

The percentage of households in Merton, which comprised one person, decreased from 32.1% to 28.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that had an unmarried couple remained close to 8.7%, while the percentage of households in Merton which comprised a married couple (with or without children) increased from 32.4% to 33.4%.

The proportion of one-person households fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 34.7% in 2001 to 31.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30.3%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Merton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.1% to 3.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85.6%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72.7% in 2001. The percentage of Merton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.3% to 10.5%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Merton decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Merton, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Merton residents that were self-employed increased from 9.2% to 12.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55.1%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 56.7% in 2001. The percentage of Merton residents that were unemployed increased from 3.3% to 4.1%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 9.0% in 2001 to 11.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Merton increased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Merton, London and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households in Merton with children increased from 28.6% to 31.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (59.0%) households had no children, compared with 62.6% in 2001. The percentage of households in Merton with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.9% to 9.4%.

The proportion of households with children increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 28.9% in 2001 to 30.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across London

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Merton

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership changed very little here, while the proportion increased across England.

In Merton, the proportion of single people increased from 39.3% in 2001 to 40.2% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

Across London, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 41.2% to 44.1%.

The proportion of married people in Merton remained close to 45.2%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.0% to 9.5%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Merton working less than 16 hours increased from 1.9% to 2.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 13.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.0% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Merton residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Merton remained close to 1.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Merton by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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